Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding.

I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... It was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.

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About Me

I am a Catholic and a historian based in Oxford, where I am a member of Oriel College. My research, for a long delayed D.Phil., is a study of Richard Fleming, Bishop of Lincoln in the second decade of the fifteenth century. I also work as a freelance tutor in History and as an independent tour guide.
I was received into the Church in 2005 and am a Brother of the External Oratory of St Philip Neri at the Oxford Oratory.

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Saturday, 20 June 2015

Recents posts

Two recent posts worth drawing the attention of readers to on the blogs which I try to find time to read are, firstly, from The Mad Monarchist. This looks at the Austrian Imperial family and their fortunes, not least the possibilities of restoration to the throne, in the years before the Second World War and their situation afterwards. An informative and interesting piece it can be read at The House of Hapsburg in World War II

Secondly, the ever trenchant
Rorate Coeli hasan interview with Alice von Hilderbrand about her late husband's dismay at what happened during Vartican II. Whether you agree with it all or partially or not at all, it is an interesting piece about how one should, or might, understand the pontificate of Pope Paul VI. It can be read at 50 Years Ago: Dietrich von Hildebrand Confronts Pope Paul VI

2 comments:

The Mad Monarchist, who I don’t think anyone would ever accuse of being a ‘details person’ is wrong to say that Otto was ever nominally King of Hungary or retained that status until near the end of WWII. Although the Emperor Charles can be said to have nominally remained King until 1921, in that year Hungary repealed the pragmatic sanction, stripping the Hapsburgs of their rights and making the throne vacant. This was, of course, to punish Charles for his attempted armed coup against Horthy.

A good point as to the legal situation in Hungary after 1921. Declaring the throne vacant nade life easier for the Horthy government, even with flirtations with Lord Rothermere. However many hungarians still would have deemed Charles and Otto to be their legitimate monarchs, and after 1989, when such ideas could again be expressed, the Habsburgs continued (and continue) to be seen as the Royal House. Had there been a feasible, realistic chance of a restoration in the inter-war period I cannot imagine it would have been anyone other than Otto who would have been considered.